There could be a new title contender in the next few weeks. With all of the rumblings of Giannis Antetokounmpo possibly getting traded from Milwaukee, whoever gets him could instantly enter the conversation as a championship contender.
Right now, everyone is speculating about which team will offer the best trade package for Giannis. This is what one of ESPN’s Giannis trade ideas looks like:
“San Antonio Spurs get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Bucks get:
Stephon Castle
Harrison Barnes
Kelly Olynyk
Jordan McLaughlin
2027 first-round pick (via Hawks)
2029 first-round pick
2032 first-round pick
Pairing Antetokounmpo with Victor Wembanyama would make for the most fascinating basketball experiment. The price to accelerate San Antonio's timeline wouldn't be cheap, costing a set of first-round picks and Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year.”
This could be a match made in heaven. Defensively, getting by Giannis and Wemby would be nearly impossible. Offensively, they would be a nightmare to deal with as well.
What makes this trade especially reasonable is that the Bucks are actually getting a good return. For one, they get Stephon Castle, last year’s Rookie of the Year. While the Spurs wouldn’t want to lose him, Dylan Harper and De’Aaron Fox being on the roster make it much more palatable.
Then there are the picks. Getting this combination of young talent and draft assets should be the type of trade package the Bucks are hoping for. Whether the Spurs want to accelerate Wembanyama’s timeline to become title contenders right now is a different question. That being said, with Wembanyama’s already questionable injury history, it may be better to make a move now than wait.
